These release notes describe the Cisco Building Broadband Service Manager (BBSM) 5.3 Service Pack 1 (SP1) addition of packet inactivity support to monitor client inactivity for the 4x0x and 6x0x Cisco Catalyst switches. Currently, BBSM monitors client activity through link status for these switches.

You should install this patch (BBSM53Patch5319.exe) in these instances if you are using the 4x0x and 6x0x switches and want to use packet inactivity to monitor status:

•You must install the patch if you are connecting through a hub, or IP phone, or any other device that would keep link status active. This patch must be installed to detect idle clients via an IP packet timer.

•You can install the patch if you prefer to use packet inactivity as a method to determine when to disconnect a client computer.

Note The most current Cisco documentation for released products is available on Cisco Connection Online (CCO) at http://www.cisco.com. Online documents may contain updates and modifications made after the paper documents are printed.

Contents

Introduction

Before packet inactivity support was available for these switches, BBSM could not detect when clients left the network based on polling the switch via SNMP for link status of the port when the client was connected through a hub or IP phone that was attached to a switch port.

Users may have experienced these symptoms when the client was connecting via a hub or IP phone:

•The user may not have seen the Connect page when opening the browser. This error message would have been displayed: The page cannot be displayed.

•The client could not ping the BBSM server.

With this enhancement, BBSM will monitor packet activity from the clients by using the client's IP address. When a client has been idle for a configurable period of time, BBSM will deactivate the client session.

After installing the patch, you should change the switch type as follows:

•From Cisco Catalyst 4x0x and Cisco Catalyst 6x0x

•To Cisco Catalyst 4x0x Packet and Cisco Catalyst 6x0x Packet

Installation

This section describes how to install the patch by using the Webpatch utility on BBSM. Read the Before You Start section before you begin the procedure.

You can install BBSM service packs or patches locally on any BBSM server or on multiple BBSM servers from another computer in a remote location. You can transfer multiple files to the BBSM server before you install them.

Note (As of BBSM 5.3, the FTP port on the internal network is blocked. Because WEBpatch transfer uses FTP, patches and service packs can be transferred only from the external network to BBSM. They cannot be transferred from within the BBSM network.)

Before You Start

Before you begin transferring and installing the patch, read the following:

•You must have administrator privileges to use WEBpatch.

•Make sure that both the external and internal NICs are plugged in and enabled, or the install will fail.

•Cisco strongly recommends that you terminate all client sessions during the installation and perform the installation during low-use time periods to minimize service interruptions and ensure proper functionality.

•Use Internet Explorer. Because of known issues with Netscape Navigator, you must use Internet Explorer when using the WEBpatch utility.

•If you are using Windows 2000 Professional or XP Professional on your client, uncheck the Client for Microsoft Networks check box as described below. When you uncheck this check box, the ASP files load much more quickly. Be sure to re-check it after you install the patch.

–Right-click Local Area Connection, and from the drop-down menu, choose Properties. The Local Area Connection Properties window appears.

–Uncheck the Client for Microsoft Networks check box.

–To close the windows, click OK three times.

•You must use the Java 2 plug-in, version 1.3.1_03, to transfer patches. Other versions will fail. The Java plug-in must be installed on the remote computer that you are using to transfer the file. If the plug-in is not installed already, click Go To Java Download Page, download the plug-in, and install it.

–To access BBSM from a remote location when you are not using SSL, enter this URL: http://<external_NIC_address>:9488/www, where <external_NIC_address> is the external network interface card (NIC) address of the BBSM server you want to access; for example, enter http://10.10.1.2:9488/www and press Enter. The Enter Network Password dialog box appears.

Note As of BBSM 5.3, the FTP port on the internal network is blocked. Because WEBpatch transfer uses FTP, patches and service pack can be transferred only from the external network to BBSM. They cannot be transferred from within the BBSM network.

–To access the BBSM Dashboard remotely through SSL, enter this URL: https://<extNIC>/www and press Enter. (You must have an SSL certificate installed on the BBSM server. The Enter Network Password dialog box appears.

b. From the Installed patches drop-down menu, choose BBSM53Patch5319.exe and click Go. The BBSM Patches web page fields populate with the data for the patch, and the View Log Entries button is enabled.

c. Click Transfer. The BBSM Transfer web page appears.

Caution You must use the Java 2 plug-in, version 1.3.1_03, to transfer patches. Other versions will fail. The Java plug-in must be installed on the remote computer that you are using to transfer the file. If the plug-in is not installed already, click
Go To Java Download Page, download the plug-in, and install it.

d. In the BBSM Transfer field, click Browse to navigate to the BBSM53Patch5319.exe file being installed and then click Open. The file name now appears in the BBSM Transfer field.

e. Click Transfer. The BBSM WEBpatch Transferred web page appears, prompting you to install the file. (To install another file at the same time, click Transfer again to continue transferring files to be installed. After all files are transferred, continue with the installation.)

b. From the drop-down menus at the top of the page, choose your criteria or click Default, which chooses all service packs and patches, the Summary trace level, and All log types.

c. Click Go. The messages are displayed in the Patch Log Data table.

d. Click OK to return to the Patch Log page and change the search parameters.

Obtaining Documentation

Cisco documentation and additional literature are available on Cisco.com. Cisco also provides several ways to obtain technical assistance and other technical resources. These sections explain how to obtain technical information from Cisco Systems.

Obtaining Technical Assistance

For all customers, partners, resellers, and distributors who hold valid Cisco service contracts, Cisco Technical Support provides 24-hour-a-day, award-winning technical assistance. The Cisco Technical Support Website on Cisco.com features extensive online support resources. In addition, Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) engineers provide telephone support. If you do not hold a valid Cisco service contract, contact your reseller.

Cisco Technical Support Website

The Cisco Technical Support Website provides online documents and tools for troubleshooting and resolving technical issues with Cisco products and technologies. The website is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at this URL:

Access to all tools on the Cisco Technical Support Website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password. If you have a valid service contract but do not have a user ID or password, you can register at this URL:

Submitting a Service Request

Using the online TAC Service Request Tool is the fastest way to open S3 and S4 service requests. (S3 and S4 service requests are those in which your network is minimally impaired or for which you require product information.) After you describe your situation, the TAC Service Request Tool automatically provides recommended solutions. If your issue is not resolved using the recommended resources, your service request will be assigned to a Cisco TAC engineer. The TAC Service Request Tool is located at this URL:

For S1 or S2 service requests or if you do not have Internet access, contact the Cisco TAC by telephone. (S1 or S2 service requests are those in which your production network is down or severely degraded.) Cisco TAC engineers are assigned immediately to S1 and S2 service requests to help keep your business operations running smoothly.

To open a service request by telephone, use one of the following numbers:

Definitions of Service Request Severity

To ensure that all service requests are reported in a standard format, Cisco has established severity definitions.

Severity 1 (S1)—Your network is "down," or there is a critical impact to your business operations. You and Cisco will commit all necessary resources around the clock to resolve the situation.

Severity 2 (S2)—Operation of an existing network is severely degraded, or significant aspects of your business operation are negatively affected by inadequate performance of Cisco products. You and Cisco will commit full-time resources during normal business hours to resolve the situation.

Severity 3 (S3)—Operational performance of your network is impaired, but most business operations remain functional. You and Cisco will commit resources during normal business hours to restore service to satisfactory levels.

Severity 4 (S4)—You require information or assistance with Cisco product capabilities, installation, or configuration. There is little or no effect on your business operations.

Obtaining Additional Publications and Information

Information about Cisco products, technologies, and network solutions is available from various online and printed sources.

•Cisco Marketplace provides a variety of Cisco books, reference guides, and logo merchandise. Visit Cisco Marketplace, the company store, at this URL:

•Cisco Press publishes a wide range of general networking, training and certification titles. Both new and experienced users will benefit from these publications. For current Cisco Press titles and other information, go to Cisco Press at this URL:

•Packet magazine is the Cisco Systems technical user magazine for maximizing Internet and networking investments. Each quarter, Packet delivers coverage of the latest industry trends, technology breakthroughs, and Cisco products and solutions, as well as network deployment and troubleshooting tips, configuration examples, customer case studies, certification and training information, and links to scores of in-depth online resources. You can access Packet magazine at this URL:

•iQ Magazine is the quarterly publication from Cisco Systems designed to help growing companies learn how they can use technology to increase revenue, streamline their business, and expand services. The publication identifies the challenges facing these companies and the technologies to help solve them, using real-world case studies and business strategies to help readers make sound technology investment decisions. You can access iQ Magazine at this URL:

•Internet Protocol Journal is a quarterly journal published by Cisco Systems for engineering professionals involved in designing, developing, and operating public and private internets and intranets. You can access the Internet Protocol Journal at this URL: